Shoe tree



April 1931. s. BATTILANI 1,800,335

SHOE TREE Filed July 2, 192 9 I IN VENTOR B Y 57210710 Bafff/dfllj HIS A TTORNE y Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITE STATES PATENT oFFICEJ STEFANO BATIILANI, or NEw YORK, N. Y.

SHOE TREE Application filed July 2,

The invention relates to shoe trees and has for its object to produce a shoe tree which is exceedingly simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to produce a shoe tree which has sufficient resiliency to cause it to conform with the inner contour of the shoe but will not allow of distortion or stretching of the shoe.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as this specification proceeds. Be-

ferring to the drawings forming a part line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View of a modified form.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another modification.

Referring again to the drawings the reference numeral 5 designates the flexible arched toe piece. This member may be formed of any desirable material. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings the upper portion 6 of the toe piece is arched so as to conform with the upper forward portion of the shoe. The rear edge of this portion may be turned in as indicated at 9 soas to eliminate any possibility of this edge catching on the shoe lining when the shoe tree is being withdrawn from the shoe.

The lower portion 7 of the toepiece is so formed as to impart a gentle upward pressure to the portion 6 and thus cause the toe piece to snugly conform with the inner contour of the shoe. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the lower portion 6 is provided with rounding sides 10. merging into somewhat flattened portions 11 which are adapted to rest on the sole of the shoe. portions 11 are connected together by an arch 12. When the. shoe tree is entered into the shoe the sides will be somewhat compressed. This compression will be taken up by the The flattened 192a Seria1 No. 375,484. 5 '2 arch 12 and cause the flattened parts 11to b'ow somewhat and raise the upper part of the toepiece so as to press it against the upper part of the shoe. lVhile the rounded edges 1O are conside'reddesirable they are not essential as this bend or curve may be of any suitable degree to accomplish the desired result. If desired the arch 12 might be extended outwardly or in theopposite direction to thatindicated in Figs. 1, 2jand 3. 'The lower portion of thetoe piece is provided with an aperture 13 to give more resiliency and flexibility. This opening 13 may be of any desired shape or size. 'The rear edg'es of the portion 6 maybe turned in as indicated at 6:1 to prevent contactjwith the sole of the shoe when withdrawing the shoe tree; 1

' Asillustrated the toe piece is formed of one piece of material. If desired the upper and lower portions might be formedof separate or under certain conditions it might be desir able to form the toepiece of pieces of material. r

The toe'pieceis provided with a rearwardly extending flexible member 14, the end of which may have a knob or suitable part 15'to engage the rear part of the shoe and hold the toe piece in position. The member ll may-be of any desired form orshape'and it maybe secured to the toe piece in numerous different s illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and the means for-securing the member 14 in position com-- prises a yoke having its sides 16 cemented or otherwise securedto the toe piece. The'm'ember 1 1 is mounted on the end 17 of the yoke: This yoke'may be formed 'ofa piece of spring steel wire surrounded by sleeves of celluloid or other suitable material. The form of this more than two member may be widely varied.

I The yoke may also function as a means for expanding the toe piece laterally soa's to insure its fitting the shoe more snugly.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 4 bent over flaps 20 are utilized to impart the desired up- I In the form illustrated in Fig. 5 the rearwardly extending member 25 in addition to holding the toe piece in position may help to retain the sides and heel portions of the shoe in shape. The member 25 is made of spring material and will be confined from excessive expansion by the loop 26. If desired the loop 26 may be omitted. VVhena large amount of expansion is desired the loop 26 may be slid toward the forward part of the shoe. The member 25 is pivoted at 27 in any suitable manner to the forward portion of the toe piece.

If desired the toe piece '6. or its side portions might extend considerably further toward the rear of the shoe or for certain types of shoes it might be considerably shorter than illustrated in the drawings. Other modifications would suggest themselves to one skilled the art and are to be considered as coming within; the spirit of invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. shoe tree comprising, a toe piece, the upperportion of said toe piece being arched to conform with the upper portion of the shoe andthe lower portion having portions hearing on the sole of the shoe and connected by an arch so as to impart a gentle upward pressure to said upper portion.

- 2. A shoe tree comprising, a toe piece, the upper portion of said piece being arched to conform with the upper portion of the shoe and the lower portion having portions hear ing on'the sole of the shoe and connected by; an il-Ch so as to impart a gentle upward pressure tosaid upper portiomand a rearwardly extending flexible member. 7 7

3. A shoe tree comprising, a toe piece, the upper portion of said 'toe' piece being arched to conform with the upper portion of the shoe andthe lower portion having an aperture or cutaway part and flattened portions connected by an arch was to bear against the so e of hesho d impa t a ge le pw d pressure to said upperportion, and a rearwardly extending flexible member.

s A shoe tree comprising; a toe piece, the upper portion ofsaidtoe piece being arched to CQI fOrm with the, upper portion of the shoe and the lower portion have portions bearing on the sole of the shoe and connected by an arch so as to impart a gentle upward pressure to said upperportion, a rearwardly exten ding-flexible ,member and ayoke composed of spring material and having its sides secured to. the toe pieceso as to impart an outward lateral pressure to said toe piece.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

- S EF N B T LA L 

